Bibendum’s Winestock

I was invited to Bibendum’s annual trade tasting the other day. They call it, rather playfully, “The Winestock Festival” and brand it like a music festival. It even lasts 2 days. The difference being that the “acts” are the wines in their portfolio.

The"Main Stage"

There was a main stage, a green room, VIP Lounge and even a Media “tent”. Very clever, they even handed out backstage “passes” that you wore around your neck to identify you as a guest.

flip side of the VIP pass

On the “main stage” there were over 100 wines to try, and believe me, I sipped, swished and spit my way through them all. By the end, palate fatigue had set in and I was ready to head downstairs for the VIP Lounge and Sweet Sensations – my favourite, dessert wines.

But before I tried any of the wines on the main stage, I hit the Krug Showcase stage. The only negative about drinking vintage champagne is that it just ruins me for anything else. And Krug just makes you want to slap your mama, it’s soooo darn good. The complexities, flavours and aromas show what great champagne is all about. It was a vertical tasting so I tried the Krug 1998, 1985 and the 1981 (bottled in magnum), as

non-vintage Krug

well as the non-vintage Krug and their Krug rosé. For me, the Krug 1981 was by far the best. It was so delicious that I just couldn’t bring myself to spit it out. A golden sparkler with a heavenly nose of hazelnuts, baking bread and toffee. I couldn’t wait to drink it. The flavours were an awesome exposition of hazelnuts, nutty bread and caramel with an amazing length of a finish. The bubbles just served to heighten my drinking pleasure. I almost wasn’t able to tear myself away but tear myself away I did.

I did make my way through the wines on the main stage and in the next few days I will be posting my thoughts on some of the standout wines that either are or will be soon available here in the UK. So watch this space for South African and even a Mexican (!) wine that I think should definitely get more exposure.